Whey protein

Studies in people

• Benefit

  Muscle strength in older adults²

  In older adults with frailty or sarcopenia, whey protein improved lean mass and physical function, but not in healthy older adults.

• Benefit

  Muscle strength in older women³

  In postmenopausal women, whey protein improved arm strength and leg lean mass only with resistance training.

• Benefit

  Muscle loss with age⁴

  In older adults, leucine-enriched whey protein plus resistance training increased lean muscle mass, strength and physical performance.

• Benefit

  Muscle recovery after exercise⁵

  In people, whey protein helped muscles work normally again in the days after hard training.

• No harm found

  Acne severity in men⁶

  In a six-month study of men with acne, whey protein did not make acne worse than a non-whey supplement.

Study type not stated

• Concern

  Kidney and liver health⁷

  Taking whey protein in large amounts for a long time may affect the kidneys and liver.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least two findings in people. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.